And those who want to make gazebos from pallets with their own hands can count on quick assembly of the structure. Precisely assembly, because finished sheets are assembled and not erected.
If you need a gazebo that needs to be built quickly, one of the best materials is wood pallets. Unless you have to take care of the foundation, frame and roof.
The advantage of gazebos made from pallets
These are structures that are made from beams or boards, arranged in 2 tiers, and are used for transporting various goods. The wood is treated with special compounds that prevent fungal infection. When used for a long time, the material becomes dry.
The times when a summer resident would relax on a stump and have lunch, spreading a newspaper on the grass, are long gone. We will build a gazebo from pallets ourselves. Of course, you can hire workers, order from a construction company, but you want to do something with your own hands.
First of all, we will outline a plan for the implementation of our project, taking into account the little details and wishes of our household members. So we need:
- Purchase pallets and related materials.
- Choose the location of our gazebo and prepare this area for the foundation.
- Determine the parameters and draw a drawing.
- Prepare pallets for construction of the gazebo.
- Actually start construction.
Examples of furniture for decorating a gazebo
| Illustrations | Description |
| A coffee table is an essential element of the surroundings of a gazebo or terrace. However, if such furniture is assembled with high quality, there is no shame in placing it in the living room of your hacienda. | |
| Sofa with an inclined back . Such furniture is necessary for normal outdoor recreation. Since it is inconvenient to carry ordinary furniture into an open gazebo, the best solution is to assemble this furniture with your own hands from pallets. | |
| Single chair . It is enough to assemble two or three such chairs, plus the previously shown coffee table and the interior of the gazebo can be considered complete. |
Where can I get pallets and how much do they cost?
The dimensions of Euro pallets are 1.2×0.8×0.14 meters, Finnish pallets are 1.2×1×0.14 meters. The thickness of the boards is 2.2 cm, but these structures are quite durable; do-it-yourself gazebos made from pallets last a long time. They can be purchased in the same way as any container. Finnish ones cost no more than 400 rubles. European ones are no more expensive than 300 rubles.
It’s very easy to purchase pallets; we’re looking for a wholesale company that sells building materials; there’s as much stuff as you want there. The average price per pallet does not exceed 200 rubles.
In a big city, it’s possible to find a company that simply throws away pallets; they can simply be collected from them. Another option is to call several companies that dispose of this container. There is a possibility of getting it for free, since export is an additional cost.
In the store we buy timber to support our roof, boards, stain to give the wood the color we need, a sheet of moisture-resistant plywood, blocks for the foundation, polycarbonate for the same roof, corners, strips and screws.
Wooden pallets:
- environmentally friendly;
- are simply processed;
- A gazebo made from pallets is aesthetically attractive.
You should not collect or buy pallets marked IPPC; they are not suitable for use as building material.
New pallets, purchased and used
As mentioned earlier, significant savings can be achieved by using pallets as raw materials for construction. This especially applies to the choice between new pallets and already used ones. The challenge for the most industrious is to make the pallets yourself. Which of the three options can be considered the best? Let's try to figure it out.
Naturally, the cheapest option would be to choose already used pallets. At the same time, you will have to spend quite a lot of effort on them: you will have to partially patch them up - drive in nails where necessary or sand them properly. In addition, used products can emit an unpleasant smell of old wood, which is not so easy to get rid of on your own. And yet, if you have the opportunity to get several pallets for free, then you shouldn’t refuse - you have every chance to make not only a gazebo out of pallets (fences made from pallets, for example, look great on a summer cottage).
If you decide to put together pallets yourself, it will be much cheaper than purchased ones, and in addition, you can be absolutely sure of the quality of your gazebo - it will last a very long time if you choose good wood.
Features of a gazebo made from pallets
It’s worth mentioning right away that pallets are more suitable for a semi-open gazebo, which is used in the summer. Otherwise, what is the point of filling the openings of the structure with windows and doors if there are gaps in the walls? On the other hand, ready-made wooden pallets provide the gazebo with the following features:
- Low percentage of shrinkage – the moisture level of the pallets does not exceed 22%;
- Light weight - the design does not require a complex foundation;
- Wooden composition - the structure is well drilled for fasteners for assembly;
- Uniform shape - the gazebo is always easily assembled from ready-made even fragments.
Also read: Stone gazebo: choice of material, project, stages of work
In terms of the number of features, a gazebo made from pallets is not inferior to the frame version. Although the thematic project also has a supporting frame - lower frame, vertical pillars, top frame.
There is no point in making a gazebo hexagonal or octagonal if it is intended for summer recreation. The best examples are square and rectangular designs. Their roofing system can be simple - single or double slope.
General description of pallets
Pallets are a structure that consists of two tiers of boards and beams. These products are designed to transport various materials and items. Examples include bricks, concrete blocks and barrels. The wood from which the pallets are made is processed, so it is not susceptible to fungus.
The products described are used in warehouses for quite a long time, so the boards have time to dry well. Companies often throw away already used pallets as unnecessary. But increasingly, this material is sold for a small fee. Pallets can be purchased both as firewood and for the construction of small structures.
The height of all described products is 15 cm. It is worth noting that there are 4 types of pallets, which differ from each other in size. It is quite easy to create a floor from the products described, since this will only require filling the gaps between the boards.
Pallet selection
It is clear that only wooden pallets are used. The origin of the wood itself is of little interest to anyone. However, we can say for sure that cheap food storage products are made from budget species - pine, birch, spruce. Larch is used less frequently. But it is precisely this and pine that must be chosen when a gazebo made from pallets with your own hands must be moisture resistant.
The thing is that conifers contain resins that prevent rot. You can pay attention to spruce, but the corresponding species has many knots that contribute to fracture. When choosing pallets you will also have to be guided by:
- Product dimensions – 1200×1000, 1200×800, 1200×600, 1100×1100 mm;
- The capacity of the pallets and the spacing between them (some blanks have no holes, which is beneficial for the construction of closed gazebos);
- The presence of lower boards (skis) on the reverse side.
The latter are especially important because they create end holes through which vertical posts can be threaded. The size of the hole between the front and back boards, i.e. between the flooring and the “skis”, respectively, helps to determine the cross-section of the bars for the load-bearing pillars.
If it is recommended to use pallets with skis for walls, then the floor base can be arranged with standard pallets with bare checkers. In any case, the presence of chamfers in the corners is welcome, because they make it safe to grip the pallets.
DIY rectangular gazebo
Building a rectangular gazebo with your own hands is not that difficult, and it will certainly add beauty to your space, but it is a little more complicated than a square-shaped structure. Always plan to shape everything at the very beginning if you want to get a good result. Plus, proper planning can prevent many costly mistakes.
Select materials with great care, making sure all parts are straight and in good condition. Building a rectangular gazebo is a little different than building a square one, but anyone with average carpentry skills can easily handle the task.
We will not describe the process in detail, all steps are shown in the diagrams, more detailed information can be obtained on the website, link under the photo with drawings.
Photo source myoutdoorplans.com/pergola/rectangular-gazebo-plans
The second part shows how to make a roof for a rectangular gazebo. Building a roof for a rectangular gazebo is a difficult task as it involves many cuts and measurements. In addition, you will definitely need an assistant. To ensure everything turns out beautifully and reliably, follow building codes and select high-quality materials. It is also necessary to use weather-resistant lumber that is of good quality and free from defects. The sequence of work is shown in the pictures in the gallery; details of the construction stages can be read on the source’s website.
Photo source myoutdoorplans.com/pergola/how-to-build-a-gazebo-roof
Another option is how to make a rectangular gazebo with your own hands. If you have the financial means, then of course it is better to buy high-quality wood, such as cedar, pine or mahogany. Also make sure that the material used is suitable for the climate conditions. According to this project, if all the materials are available, the gazebo can be built in one day.
Photo source howtospecialist.com/outdoor/gazebo/how-to-make-a-gazebo
2 interesting photos: Gazebos made of birch trees
How to build a gable roof for a rectangular gazebo.
The first stage is the manufacture and installation of the top ridge and rafters. As you can see in the picture, you need to cut the ends of the rafters to the required size and secure them to the upper crossbars with screws. Make sure the top ridge is horizontal, otherwise the roof will not be symmetrical. The next stage is the installation of rafters on both sides of the roof. You must place the beams in the center. Trim the rafters to the required size (45°) and shape and install them in place. Drill holes and secure them with galvanized screws. Attach the rafters to the front and back edges of the rectangular gazebo. Install the side rafters. Secure the roofing sheets. In order to protect the gazebo from precipitation, it is recommended to cover the roofing sheets with roofing felt.
Attach the slats to the rafters, it is very important to cut the ends of the slats at a 45º angle if you want the roof to look nice
Photo source howtospecialist.com/outdoor/gazebo/how-to-build-a-gazebo-roof/
Preparatory work
The very first steps are choosing a location on the site, developing a construction scheme, and calculating the number of pallets.
We very carefully prepare the pallets for the gazebo, select exactly the same ones, clean them and sand them on one side. Now you need to treat the wood from mold, mildew and insects. We will prepare the antiseptic ourselves.
For 10 liters of water we need 3 kilograms of baking soda and 3 liters of 9% vinegar. Pour the soda into the container and add vinegar, stirring constantly, then pour in hot water, continuing to stir, after five minutes the impregnation is ready.
We treat the wood with a brush and let it dry. The second time we treat the wood to give it the color we need with a water-based stain that we bought at the store. That's all the preparations.
After collecting/purchasing pallets you must:
- inspect, clean, repair pallets (if necessary);
- divide into separate elements (if required by the scheme);
- polish the parts that are planned to be located inside the building;
- cover with the composition. Protects against moisture, fungus, fire;
- paint.
Also read: Gazebo made of wooden pallets
A gazebo made from pallets, built with your own hands, has many advantages:
- the building is open, air circulates well;
- even new pallets are not expensive;
- The building is environmentally friendly.
The disadvantage is the same as that of a building made from any other type of wood - the need to periodically update the paint.
Preparation of material
Not only the project needs preparation, but also the pallets from which the gazebo will be made. After all pallets have been delivered to site, their condition must be carefully assessed. The first step is to remove dirt, since in industrial conditions the pallets are not kept clean. After complete cleaning, it is easier to identify shortcomings that can be eliminated by replacing several boards or simply fixing individual elements. In some cases, it will be necessary to assemble one from two pallets, so you should have a certain supply of material before starting construction. In accordance with the drawn up project, the pallets are divided by size and parameters for a specific module. Sometimes the connection of several elements is required. If all this is done in advance, the final assembly will happen faster.
Since pallets are considered a consumable material, planed wood is not used for them. A gazebo made from it will look unattractive. This means that it must be further processed with a grinding machine. In some cases, it will be necessary to remove several layers of sandpaper of varying grits to achieve a smooth surface. When the initial grinding is completed, it is necessary to give the pallets a certain fire resistance. This is done with special impregnations. After applying them, you must wait until they dry completely. During the process, some fibers will rise and will need to be sanded down again. Some people prefer to paint the pallets at this stage. But it is better to do this on a finished structure, since some areas may be damaged during the installation process. It is easier to paint hard-to-reach places, and after construction, finish the front side.
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Drawing
We correlate the sizes with the number of family members and guests who will certainly come and appreciate our work. Drawing is a very important matter, you need to take everything into account:
- how many rows will there be at the base;
- how many pallets will be in a row;
- how many pillars are needed for the roof;
- will the entrance to the gazebo be determined by the doorway, or will the entire front part of the gazebo itself be an entrance;
- determine the angle of inclination of the roof;
- We decide how many rows there will be in our walls, one or two.
The drawing and calculations will give us enormous savings in materials, and therefore in money.
Creating a foundation
A pallet gazebo can be installed on compacted soil, but professional builders recommend creating a foundation. The foundation can be of two types:
- The pile type of foundation for the gazebo involves the use of screw piles or asbestos-cement pipes. If you choose this option, you can create a foundation quite quickly. After installing the supports, a metal or timber frame is attached to them, on which the floor is then laid. Before creating a gazebo with your own hands, you should determine in advance the required number of piles.
- If a strip base is being created, it is necessary to create a trench and, after installing the wooden formwork, fill it with a cement-sand mixture.
Important!
Since the structure made from pallets is light in weight, it is worth creating a shallow foundation. In this case, its width should be approximately 10 cm greater than the thickness of the pallet. If the gazebo will be installed without a foundation, after creating a sand cushion, it is necessary to lay waterproofing material. This is necessary to protect the tree from moisture penetration from the soil.
It is also worth remembering to protect the lower harness. In this case, the waterproofing material is laid on the foundation.
Construction options
1
After preparation, the question arises of how to make a gazebo from pallets. It's actually not difficult. The foundation can be as light and simple as bricks or cinder blocks. For stability, it is advisable to dig not very deep holes and check the horizontality with a level. The lower trim is made from pallets connected to each other with self-tapping screws. Fastening to the blocks is not required so that if necessary, the foundation can be repaired by the gazebo can be removed from it.
Along the edge of the strapping, the pallets are placed vertically, connected with self-tapping screws, and attached to the strapping using L-shaped hardware. The top row of pallets is connected using metal plates and bolts. Metal spacers can be installed at the corners. The doorway is sheathed with timber or boards. The floor is also laid from pallets and covered with plywood to prevent feet from falling through.
Boards are used for rafters. One edge of the pallets is placed on the ridge, the second on the top frame. The length of a standard pallet is most often not enough; extensions from boards are required. When installing a roof, you can eliminate the need for pallets and replace them with polycarbonate-coated boards.
All that remains is to hang the door and install garden furniture (table, chair, sofa, benches) made from the same pallets. In a gazebo made from pallets for a summer residence, the walls and floor are varnished or painted. For decoration, in addition to furniture, you can use various curtains, vases or containers with flowers, multi-colored pillows on benches and a sofa. An experienced craftsman can cover pallet furniture with fabric. A few days are enough for construction and arrangement.
Also read: Construction of a gazebo from a log
2
On the marked area we drive in four pegs in the corners. We place the blocks around the perimeter so that the wall pallets rest on one half, and the floor pallets on the other; in the central part of the floor, the four corners of adjacent pallets rest on one block; under each block we place a piece of roofing felt for waterproofing. We check the exposed blocks by level.
In the corners we dig in pillars, pre-wrapped with roofing felt, at a depth of at least 0.5 meters. The back wall posts of our gazebo needed to be shorter to accommodate the angle of our roof. We lay out three rows of three pallets, the dimensions of the pallet are 1200 length, 800 width, so the length of the gazebo is 3.6 meters, width 2.4 meters.
We lay out the pallets with the sanded side up, insert the purchased boards along the entire length into the cracks and secure them with screws. The floor acquires the structure of an entire massif. We fill the walls with pallets in two rows with the polished side facing inward. We secure everything with corners and plates.
We make the top frame from boards and set up the guides, we put the guides on the edge, which greatly increases the strength, and we attach polycarbonate sheets to them. Our roof turned out to be light and transparent.
We cut the pallets lengthwise, fasten the sagging boards with spacers, and place them around the perimeter of the walls; these are our improvised sofas. We place several pallets in the center and attach a treated sheet of moisture-resistant plywood on top of each other - this is our table.
So we made a gazebo out of pallets with our own hands at the dacha. In two seasons, wild grapes will entwine it from all sides, children’s laughter will be heard there during the day, and in the evening the whole family will drink delicious and aromatic tea. Guests will admire the gazebo and thank the builders.
3
For a gazebo made from pallets for a summer house, 20-30 pallets are usually enough. Much depends on the area of the structure, so a 20% supply of board panels will never hurt. The main emphasis is on creating a frame:
- First, a location for the building is selected;
- Then the soil surface is cleaned;
- The next stage is the creation of holes for a columnar brick foundation or piles;
- Next, you need to arrange the lower trim on the foundation;
- The pillars are attached to the lower support (the pillars can be fixed using pallets);
- Then the top trim, rafters and sheathing for the roofing system are organized;
- Light roofing materials are laid on the sheathing - euro slate, roofing felt, flexible tiles.
After this, all that remains is to fill the walls and floors with pallets, and the gazebo is completely ready. The shields remaining after construction can be used to assemble a table and benches inside the structure.
If the desired gazebo is a simple quadrangular structure with minimal filling and an area of no more than 4 m², then it can be built on a simple deck of gravel and sand. This substrate serves as the foundation and has a thickness of 8-10 cm.
Distinctive features
Pallets (also called pallets) are two-tier wooden structures made of boards and beams that are used for convenient transportation of various goods.
The weight of the pallets is relatively small - 15–22 kg. Today they make several standard sizes of the structure, but our most common one is the standard with dimensions of 120x80x14 cm. Moreover, the height of one pallet can vary from 12 to 15 cm.
You can make a gazebo from pallets yourself
In fact, pallets are almost ready-made material for building a summerhouse. This material has many advantages:
- Easy assembly. Even if you have no construction experience, you can build the entire structure yourself with a minimum of tools.
- Construction requires little time. While a building made of brick or wooden beams may take several weeks, in our case it can be completed in approximately 2–3 days.
- Saving. Pallets are a cheap and affordable consumable material that is not difficult to obtain. And if you build from old pallets, the costs will be even lower.
- The arrangement of pallets will allow you to make a comfortable gazebo. The structure itself will provide shade, while the internal space will be open for free air circulation. The best summer option for a summer residence.
- Appearance. If such a gazebo is properly decorated, it will look no worse than more expensive buildings.
Among the shortcomings, only the low resistance of the material to weather influences needs to be mentioned. Pallets are not intended for long-term outdoor use. Therefore, to prevent the wood from drying out, cracking or rotting, it must be strengthened every 3–5 years with bactericidal impregnations against fungus and woodworms. It is also necessary to update the outer layer of varnish or paint from time to time.
Drawing and location selection
Before building a gazebo from pallets, professionals advise preparing a clear plan that must be followed during the construction process:
- drawing development;
- choosing a suitable location for future construction;
- selection of building materials and required tools;
- construction of a gazebo;
- arrangement and finishing of a country house.
Don’t worry about a lack of knowledge, because you can create a gazebo project and its drawings using a simple graphic editor. When developing a drawing, the main thing is not to perfectly depict the object, but to take into account its structural sections. As a last resort, you can always look for ready-made drawings on the Internet and select the most suitable ones in terms of size, shape, and design. Regardless of what type of structure is selected, the main thing is that it is as strong, lightweight, quick to assemble and durable as possible.
Did you know? Pallets first appeared in the USA at the beginning of the last century. They were used to facilitate the work of loaders, thereby significantly speeding up the process of delivering goods and food products.
As for the place to install the gazebo, it is better to choose a flat, spacious area, which is first recommended to be cleared of vegetation, branches, stones and other plant debris. If the selected location is uneven, then it must be leveled using regular soil or crushed stone. After preparing the area, you need to apply markings using steel or wooden pegs and rope.
Tools and materials
At the initial stage of construction, care must be taken to prepare the building materials for making the gazebo and the required tools.
From the latter you will need:
- measuring instruments: tape measure, level, pencil;
- tools for working with wood: saw, hammer, axe, jigsaw, sander;
- fastening tools: screwdriver, self-tapping screws, drill, drills, nails, anchors, cap screws.
To simplify the construction process, experts advise using power tools.
Also check out the use of amphorae in landscape design.
From the materials, in addition to the base of the gazebo - pallets, you need to prepare:
- foundation material: brick, blocks;
- wooden blocks, boards, slats;
- for mortar: cement, sand.
Creating a roof
Pallets in their usual form are not suitable for roofing, so they need to be disassembled into boards and a lath created.
The following materials can be used to create a roof:
- Polycarbonate. This material transmits light well and is resistant to temperature changes. When choosing a material, you can choose the shade you like best.
- Ondulin. This material is quite popular because it has an affordable price and is simply mounted on the sheathing. It also has a long service life. By choosing brown or green material, you can make a gazebo that will fit harmoniously into the landscape.
- Soft tiles. This material is more expensive. It is worth noting that soft tiles go well with wood. If desired, you can choose material with different patterns and shades. It is worth noting that it is necessary to create a continuous flooring under this material.
The shape of the roof of a gazebo made from pallets can be different. When creating a gazebo from pallets for a summer house, it is important to choose the right shade of roofing material to make the gazebo look more attractive.
